Putnam Community Centers And Pools Remain Closed

Putnam County’s community centers and pools will remain closed until at least May 31.

Parks and Recreation Director John Albertson said the pools usually don’t open until mid-May.

“We’re trying to do a lot of things that we would normally do to get the pools operational,” Albertson said. “It’s definitely been an interesting job doing our lifeguard training and things of that nature, having to do it through zoom and having to do smaller classes to certify lifeguards.”

Playgrounds and athletic facilities are closed along the 16 community centers and two pools. Albertson said the next governor’s mandate will determine how the department will move forward.

All community programs are also cancelled. Albertson said the parks and recreation department hasn’t caught much of a break since March.

“We were well into the tornado relief program in March and we spent quite a bit of time in March working on that kind of stuff. And then we transitioned straight out of that emergency management into the COVID management. It’s kinda slowed for us, from one to another,” Albertson said.

Department members are working to ensure facilities will be ready when restrictions are lifted, Albertson said.